Our 2023 imagineNATIVE film fest recap

Nunavut Film got to witness some big wins and was a proud member of the audience at the 2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto last week!

Launched in 2000, imagineNATIVE is the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen-based content. Nationally and internationally, it is the go-to presenter for Indigenous artists seeking an invested and interested audience and for others seeking Indigenous content.

From Nunavut, festivalgoers got to see Tautuktavuk: What We See by directors Lucy Tulugarjuk and Carol Kunnuk. The film shares the story of two siblings’ attempts to heal and overcome trauma during the pandemic.

Lucy, who was at the screening, spoke about the challenges of filming during COVID-19 in a Q&A with the audience after.

Photo via IsumaTV's social media channels

She also shared the unique, often exacerbated challenges that Nunavummiut in smaller communities experience, especially in accessing mental health supports and other care. 

 "The messages were still there, but sometimes in order to make it work, we had to also be open to improvizations," Lucy said about the scripting and filming process.

"The main topic that we wanted to bring to the attention was the violence on women — Indigenous women — and the lack of support that we see often in small communities. When you move into a southern city, the services are available," she added.

"Still, the message was pretty clear: when you're in the far North, in a small community, oftentimes it feels like we have to beg to get the services that we are entitled to just as anyone else in Canada." 

Tautuktavuk took home the Sun Jury award from this year's festival. It is also available for viewing online till October 29. Congratulations to the team!

Nunavut Film also got to sit in on industry panels about feature films in development and Indigiqueer storytelling. As well, screenings of films such as Fancy Dance by Seneca–Cayuga American documentary film director Erica Tremblay and three episodes of the last season of Reservation Dogs. It was an opportunity to experience, explore and understand the stories that other Indigenous filmmakers from the country and internationally are sharing through their work. 

The festival also gave us the space to reflect on how opportunities for Inuit in the screen-based industry continue to be challenging and inaccessible due to geography and the high costs associated with Arctic living, and how we can keep playing a role in bridging some of these gaps.

At Nunavut Film, we understand the importance of providing opportunities for circumpolar partnerships and maintaining them once established. As well, we champion stories from the North — especially those told by Nunavummiut and Inuit — making it to the big screen at festivals like imagineNATIVE.

We strive to increase accessibility for Inuit to work with fellow Inuit, regardless of their geographic location. Films like Tautuktavuk are an example of this work and an essential part of sharing Inuit history and lived experience.
 
Thank you to the organizers for the culturally rich and authentic experience!